Here's why a month without the booze might benefit you

After what seems like a lifetime, we've waved goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021.And what better way to start the new year than starting the year on a high! We're talking about taking part in <a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january" target="_blank">Dry January &ndash; the UK's one-month booze-free challenge</a> that helps millions of people reset their relationship with alcohol. After a month of overindulging in food and boozy video-calls with your nearest and dearest, why not help raise money and awareness for the <a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/" target="_blank">charity Alcohol Change</a>? Here are a few other fantastic reasons to give your body a break from booze for 31 days. <h2>Your wallet will thank you</h2>A bottle of wine with the food shop, a glass or two after working from home &ndash; it all adds up.You might even be surprised at just how much extra cash you could save by giving Dry January a go. According to Alcohol Change the <a href="https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/dry-january-individuals" target="_blank">average person</a> spends a whopping £50,000 on booze in their lifetime! <img alt="money__hero" class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/money__hero_GL?scl=1"> Your health will be betterA month alcohol-free has lots of health benefits according to <a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january/why-do-dry-january-1/why-do-dry-january" target="_blank">research conducted by the Royal Free Hospital</a>. This study found that a month off alcohol lowers blood pressure, reduces diabetes risk, lowers cholesterol. It's a win win. <h2>You'll be raising money for a good cause</h2>Dry January isn't only about ditching alcohol for a month. It also involves people <a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january/go-dry-for-charity/go-dry-for-charity" target="_blank">raising money for Alcohol Change</a>, which uses donations to help protect families and individuals from drink-related problems. It also drives a conversation about alcohol; why we drink it, what does it do, and how we can reduce the harm it causes.According to the charity, a loved one in the UK is lost to alcohol every hour - so there&rsquo;s never been a more important time to help out, raise money and educate ourselves about alcohol.<img alt="money__hero" class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/money__hero_GL?scl=1"> <h2>You'll have time to try new things </h2>With all that extra time on your hands, now that your Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays aren&rsquo;t focused around alcohol, you can find a whole range of much more interesting things to get involved with.When was the last time you read a book? Or finally joined in with that online calligraphy class you meant to start? You could even try enrolling in a language or craft class or get back into that bit of <a href="https://direct.asda.com/george/home-garden/D26,default,sc.html" target="_blank">DIY</a> you started at the beginning of lockdown. The world really is your oyster. <h2>Your sleep will only get better</h2>Still trying to catch up on your sleep since...time began? According to <a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/dry-january/why-do-dry-january-1/why-do-dry-january" target="_blank">Alcohol Change, 70% of participants</a> who took part in Dry January had a better night's sleep and 66% had more energy. It's a no brainer! Cut out the alcohol and catch some of those well needed ZZZs. <img alt class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/woman-asleep-in-bed__hero_GL?scl=1"><h2>You'll be cutting down on calories</h2>By not drinking alcohol, you'll also be refraining from taking lots of unnecessary calories on board. Did you know that a pint of lager has about the same calorie count as a packet of crisps? And according to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/calories-in-alcohol.aspx" target="_blank">NHS England</a>, the average wine drinker takes in around 2,000 calories from alcohol every month. So if you're trying to cut back on calories in January, not drinking alcohol is a no-brainer. Plus it might change the way you think about drinking and the calorie-count of your drinks in future months.For more information about signing up for Dry January or Alcohol Change, visit <a href="http://www.dryjanuary.org.uk" target="_blank">dryjanuary.org.uk</a>.

6 great reasons to give Dry January a go this year

By Asda Good Living,1st January 2018

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